Machine and method for setting elements upon a strip



A 1936. E. HOPKINSON ET AL 2,052,179

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR SETTING ELEMENTS UPON A STRIP v Filed June 24, 1931 6 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Aug. 25, 1936.

H'OPKINSON ET AL MACHINE AND METHOD FOR SETTING ELEMENTS UPON A STRIP Filed June 24, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2.

FIG. 9.

g- 1936. E. HOPKINSON ET AL MACHINE AND METHOD FOR SETTING ELEMENTS UPON A STRIP Filed June 24, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IENVENTORS FIG. 20.

Aug. 25, 1936. E. HOPKINSON ET AL MACHINE AND METHOD FOR SETTING ELEMENTS UPON A STRIP Filed June 24, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1936. E. HOPKINSON ET AL 2, 79

MACHINE AND'METHOD FOR SETTING ELEMENTS UPON A STRIP ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 193 6.,

E. HOPKINSON ET AL MACHINE AND METHOD FOR SETTING ELEMENTS'UPON A STRIP Filed June 24, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 w FIG. l4.

INVENTOHS Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE AND METHOD FOR. SETTING ELELIENTS UPON A STRIP Jersey Application June 24, 1931, Serial No. 546,506 24 Claims. (01. 153-1 This invention relates to the art of separable quick operating fastening devices of the type wherein a slider associated with a series of meeting fastener elements disposed along the sides of an opening may be actuated therealong in order to open or close the opening by disengaging or interlocking said elements. The invention is particularly directed to an apparatus for setting or aflixing such fastener elements to a corded carrying strip which may be sewn or otherwise connected to the sides of the opening desired to be opened and closed. The fastener elements contemplated are metal elements having separated legs for clamping upon carrying strips disposed on opposite sides of the opening, each element having a head.or contact portion provided with a recess on one side and a protuberance on the other, the respective heads and protuberances of cooperating elements on opposite sides of the opening being arranged so that the elements may alternately interlock with each other. The invention is particularly applicable therefore to setting or afiixing fastening elements of the type disclosed in-the patent to Willard H. Cobb, No. 1,761,385, patented June 3, 1930.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby fastener elements with separated legs may be continuously applied to and clamped in position upon a carrying strip./

Another object is to make it possible to set fastener elements on a carrying strip with greater precision than has heretofore been possible.

Another object is to provide an apparatus by means of which fastener elements may be handled readily and efficiently and applied to and set upon a carrying strip with rapidity.

A further object is to enable strips with fastener elements positioned thereupon, hereinafter referred to as stringers, to be continuously made in a desired length with a predetermined space between lengths.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear when reference is had to the following specification and drawings;

The invention broadly comprises means for feeding legged fastener elements head first into an advancing chain constructed with holding recesses in which the heads may be seated and held, means for advancing the chain around a wheel and thus reversing the position of the elements so their legs are downwardly extending and thus feeding said elements longitudinally of a carrying strip with the legs straddling the corded edge of the same, and means for afiixing the elements to said strip by closing or clamping the legs over the corded edge thereof while the elements and strip are continuously advancing. With the objects of the invention together with the broad means for its accomplishment set out above, in mind, a detailed description of the apparatus will be proceeded with.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine included in this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same with parts cut away.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the fastener element supplying and positioning device.

Fig. 5 is a. perspective view of the supply tray and the associated means for positioning the elements supplied therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of'the fastener element tripping mechanism for turning the same upside down.

Fig. '7 is a section taken along line 'l'! of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a section taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the fastener element carrying means, with the cooperating parts of the feeding chute and guideway for the foundation tape or strip shown in section.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a section of the chain which comprises the fastener element carrying means. i

Fig. 10A is a plan view of three cooperating parts of the chain of Fig. 10, the parts being separated for purposes of illustration. Y

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation, with intermediate parts broken away, of the means for insuring positive feeding of the fastener elements into the element carrying means or chain.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line l2-l2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the hammers associated with the means for setting or. clamping the legs of the fastener elements.

Fig. 14 is a plan view with certain parts removed of the fastener element setting or leg clamping mechanism in inoperative position.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 14 in operating position.

Figs. 16 and 17 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken along lines ||i-|6 of Fig. 14 and II--II of Fig. 15 respectively.

Fig. 18 is a section taken along'line I8--I8 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 19 is a planview of the strip or tape guiding andtensioning mechanism.

Fig. 20 is an end viewof the device of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21' is an end view'of a tape or strip positioning mechanism which may be used with the apparatus, this mechanism being omitted from Figs. 19 and. 20, but being shown in position a'djacent the end of the tape or strip guiding and tensioning mechanism'in Fig. 2 I

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary side view of part of the ratchet mechanism which automatically suspends the flow of fasteners at predetermined times to allow stringers of predetermined length to be made. I

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a trip mechanism for throwing out the main clutch of the apparatus in the event a fastener element becomes caughtbetween moving parts or in the event the strip or tape becomes accidentally caught upon some part of the machine.

Fig. 24 is a section along line 24-24 of Fig. 1

- showing the construction of the main clutch.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary view along line 25--25 of Fig. 3 showing the clutch operating lever and the manner in which it is actuated by the automatic trip mechanism.

Before proceeding to a detailed explanation of the machine, the operation will be briefly described. Referring to Figs. 9 and 11, fastener elements 29 are fed head first down the chute 30 into chain 3|. The elements are lodged in the chain as shown in Fig. 10 and the chain advanced around wheels 32 and 33 in order to feed the elements longitudinally of the carrying strip 35 which passes through slot I3I with the legs of the elements straddling the-corded edge 36 of the strip. While so moving the legs of the elements are clamped upon the corded edge by hammers 34 in the manner shown in Figs. 16 and 17 which are cross sectional views'taken at right angles to the chain andassociated mechanism. The strip is moved continuously forward by the pull exerted by elements already clamped in position thereon and whose heads are still carried forward by the chain. The finishedstringers may be seen 7 leaving the machine at the left of Fig. 2.

:mounted for free rotation about the shaft 4, may

be driven by suitable means. for instance by running a belt thereover. A clutch may be provided in the form of a collar III fixed to the shaft 4 and provided with operating keys II slidable in .keyways I2 (see-Figs. 1 and 24). A lever I3 is pivoted at I4 and the frame of the machine so that it may be actuatedby rod I5 in order to positionthe cam faces I8 ofthe lever I3 in the path of coacting faces II on the operating keys and thus push the same inwardlyand out of the path of pin IB-afllxed to the fly wheel 9 thereby disengagingthe' clutch. The keys are urged outwardly'by' springs I9 seated in recesses in the 1 and 9).

enlarged part of collar I 0. Spring 20 operating against pin 2| is arranged in the frame of the machine to tend to push lever I3 upwardly against its own weight and spring 23 operating between the machine frame and collar 24 is provided to urge rod I5 upwardly. The rod l5 extends downwardly underneath the machine and is pivotally connected to the treadle bar 25 whose other end is flxed to the upright operating lever 28 as'at 21 (Figs. 3 and 25). The treadle bar is pivoted on the frame of the machine as at 28. The action of the operating lever 28 through bar 25 and rod I5 will be specifically described here- I inafter.

The element carrying chain is actuated by shaft 40 which carries sprockets 4| for meshing into the driving links 42 of the chain 3| (Figs.

The rotation of the shaft 4 is transferred through bevel gears 43 and 44 to shaft 45 at the lower end of which is a bevel 46 meshing with another bevel 41. This latter gear revolves -loosely upon shaft 40 but is connected thereto by a clutch 48 which consists of a toothed clutch face 48 keyed to shaft 48 for slidable movement thereon and urged by spring 5| (Fig. 3) into intermeshing relation with a complementary face 50 integral with gear 41. The spring 5| is seated against the collar 52 on the end of the shaft 40. Clutch member 49 has an enlarged collar portion 53 arranged between rollers 54 disposed on an arm 55 which operates the tripping mechanism for throwing out the main clutch. This operation will be later described.

Rotation of the sprockets 4| (one on each side of the chain) causes the chain to be advanced around flanged wheels 32 and 33 (see Figs. 9 and 12) on shafts 83 and 84 journaled in side pieces 14 and I4 and I5 and I5. These wheels contact with the inner portions of the fastener elements carrying members 85 of the chain. These members consist of L-shaped links provided with upstanding portions 86 which are recessed at 81 adapted to receive or seat the humps of the elements 28. The L-shaped links are provided with bearing recesses through which link pins 88 are extended to hold the links together and to the driving links 42 which are provided on each side in staggered relation. This construction is shown 0f the machine, the upstanding portions 86 fan out as in Figs. 9 and 11 and allow fastener elements 28 which are fed down chute 30 to seat themselves therebetween with their legs outwardly extending. In this position they are carried around the wheel 32 until their legs pass out of contact with guide I3 and rest adjacent plates I54 and I 55 (Fig. 16) with their crotches on the corded edge 36 of the tape 35 which is moved along with the elements at the same speed as that of the chain. During this movement hammers 34 are driven inwardly thereby clamping the legs of the fastener elements on the carrying strip as shown in Fig. 1'7. The chain carries the clamped elements forward and thus provides a means for feeding the carrying strip at a proper rate of speed. The operation of the hammer mechanism will now be described.

. Fixed to cross head 1 are cam arms ||l| provided with foot portions I82 which latter have rail-shaped toes I03 arranged to reciprocate up and'down in guide tracks I04. Between the head 2,052,179 and foot portions: IOI and I02 are slots I05 into which plates I06 bolted to slide blocks I01 are fitted for reciprocating the slide blocks in the direction of movement or the chain. The slide motion.

blocks are guided inthis movement by flanges I00 on member H0 and flanges I09 connected with members III, the members H0 and III being disposed in fixed relation to the base plate I (Fig. 12). The slide blocks may be provided with springs I21 (Fig. 3) acting against blocks I20 fixed to the base in order to take up lost Hammers are arranged to slide back and forth transversely of the slide blocks I01 and are normally held away from contact with the fastener elements carried by the chain by means of spring II 2 connected to pins II8 on the hammers and to pins -I on the fixed members I26. The hammers are actuated by virtue of the reciprocating movement of the slide blocks which cause the cam surfacesIIB of the hammers to ride upon cam rollers II1 which are disposed in the path of the cam surfaces when the slide blocks I01 are moving in the same direction as the chain. Cam rollers I I1 are mounted in members III and are disposed on rods II8 which extend upwardly through plates I26 and slide through frames II9 which are connected to the cross heads I at each side thereof. The rods are provided at this end with adjustable collars I20 in order to provide means for raising the shafts II8 at predetermined times when the crosshead ascends. Disposed over the cam rods II8 and fixed into frames H9 are adjustable ers, and provide bearings for theshafts II8.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the cross head is in its uppermost position and the hammers are pulled back into inoperative position as shown in Figs. 14 and 16. The last upward movement of the cross head raises the frames H9, the lower portions I00 of which catch collars I20 and raise rods I I8 and cam rollers II1 to the position shown in Fig. 16 where the cam rollers are positioned inside the curved cam surface II5 of hammers 34 but without contact therewith sufliciently to force them inwardly. The cam rollers are retained in raised position by virtue of balls I23 being forced into the lower set of grooves-I22 by springs I24 (Figs. 16 and 12). As the cross head travels downwardly the cam arms IOI coact' with the plates I06 sliding in grooves I05 and move the slide blocks I01 forward in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 14. During this movement the hammers ride up upon the cam rollers I I1, first on cam surface H6 and then on the endsof the hammers, at which position the hammers are forced inwardly to their maximum extent to clamp the legs of the fastener elements over the corded edge 38 of the carrying strip 35 as shown in Figs. 15 and 17, and without interrupting the advancing movement of the strip 35. At the end of the downward movement the pins I2I butt they are locked by balls I23 being forced into the upper set ofgrooves. I22 on rods II8 while the cam arms IOI pass the lowermost position and (moving slides I01 backward)-unti1 the lower portions of the frames I I 9 again coact with collars I 20 and pull the rods II8 upward in order to position the hammers for another clamping operation. During the upward travel of the crosshead and the rearward travel of the slide blocks, the hammers of course are not acted upon by rollers H1 and areretained in inoperative position by the springs H2. The operating cycle of the hammer mechanism begins again when the crosshead reaches its uppermost position. The hammers are preferably wide enough so that several fastener elements may be clamped on the carrying strip at one time. allowing sumcient time for the chain to position another group of elements while the hammers are withdrawn and being brought back for another clamping operation. The angle made by the cam arms IOI with the vertical and the speed of the chain may be varied in order to set a greater or less number of elements.

The carrying strip guiding mechanism (Figs. 19 and 20) consists of a plate I30 fixed to the base I and provided with a, groove I3I through which the carrying strip is adapted to pass. The roller I43 on a shaft supported by block I44 may be provided in order that the corded edge of the carrying strip may be held down and the strip held in place in the groove I3I. In order to extend the strip in a straight line longitudinally of the chain and at a slight but uniform tension while the fastener elements are being applied thereto, a metal presser strip I32 may be arranged inside the groove I3I so that it may be pushed against the strip by means of springs I33. The presser strip I32 is provided with guide feet I34. the inner foot acting in a complementary groove in the supporting plate I30 and the outer foot bein'g provided with a slot I35 through which a screw I36 may be inserted and threaded into plate I30. This construction allows the presser strip to be yieldably forced against the side of the carrying strip or tape. Pin I31 provided with an easily accessible operating rod I29 secured to strip I32, is passed through a suitable hole in plate I30 so that the rying strip is being initially threaded into the machine. I

To the end I38 of the carrying strip guide may be attached, by meansof a bracket I53, a guiding mechanism such as that shown in Fig. 21, the same being shown in Fig. 2 in side elevation in the position it takes when attached to the machine. This consists ofa block I39 having a slot I40 to accommodate tape. Pin I4I, urged inwardly by a spring I42, is adjustably arranged in an opening in the block I39 at right angles to the tape slot. The pin is forced by the spring under the corded edge 36 of the carrier strip and forces the same to ride thereover in order to properly position the carrying strip or tape for passage through the machine.

In order to cut off the flow of fastener elements when the tape 35 runs out, a roller I45 is disposed at the end of one arm of a bell crank I46 so that it normally rests upon the corded edge of the tape as indicated in Fig. 2. The bell crank I46 is pivoted at I41 upon a support I48 attached to the plate I30. The other end of the crank may be pivotally connected to link I49 which in turn is connected to another bell crank I50 pivoted at Hi. The other end of the bell crank I50 is provided with an adjustable finger I52. When the tape 35 is exhausted from its feeding reel or other means of supply (not shown) the roller I46 will drop down to the dot and dash line position of Fig. 2, thus moving the associated parts of the mechanism so that finger I52 is depressed into the path of the fastener elements which are being fed down the chute 30, thus cutting off the supply and preventing fastener' elements from being jammed between moving parts of the hammer mechanism.

After passing through the slot I3I In the guide plate I30, the carrying strip or tape passes between the plates 93 and 64 which rest upon member H0 and which are disposed adjacent the inside of member 14 which journal the shaft of the chain roller 63. Immediately under the hammers 34 plates 93 and 94 are cut away and in their place are inserted adjusters I64 and I65 yieldingly held against the tape by springs I66 acting against pins I51 which are attached to the adjusters (see Figs. 16 and 18). This construction holds the tape steady during the hammering operation yet allows for variation in width or imperfections or knots in the construction of the tape.

Means for positively feeding the elements Into the chain and means for cutting off the feed at predetermined times in order to allow a proper dwell to produce spaces between predetermined lengths of stringers may be provided. Both these means are arranged to operate from a cam wheel I60 disposed on the end of and rotating with the shaft 40. The rocker arm I.6I is pivoted in a bracket at I62 and provided with a spring I63 which urges a contact surface or cam follower I69 into contact with the cam surfaces I64 on the cam wheel. At the other end of the rocker I6I is provided a pawl I65 (Fig. 22) urged by spring I66 against a ratchet I 61 which rotates on a shaft I66 journalled in bracket I66 (Figs. 1 and 3). On the side of the ratchet gear I61 is provided a cam surface I10 adapted to coact against a surface I" intermediate the ends of lever I12 as best shown in Fig. 3. One end of the lever I12 is pivoted upon the bracket at I13 and is urged inwardly toward the side face of the ratchet I61 by a spring I56 fixed to the ratchet carrying bracket. Another spring I14 exerts a braking action against the ratchet and prevents it from spinning upon impulses supplied through pawl I65. The other end of the lever I12 is terminated adjacent a pin I16 on link I16 (Fig. 11) which link is connected to a crank I11 which rotates the shaft I16 upon which is fixed a finger I19. As the cam wheel I60 is rotated, the rocker I6I is rocked between the action of the cam surface and springs I63 until the ratchet I61 is turned by pawl I65 to push cam I10 against the coactingpart of the lever I12. This latter is turned about its pivot I13 against the action of spring I58 while its outer end pushes the pin I15 to the left (when viewed as in Fig. 11) throwing out the feed mechanism (which' will be later described) and rotating crank I11 and shaft I18 until the finger I19 assumes the full line position of Fig. 11, thus preventing fastener elements 29 from sliding down the chute 30. The cam I10 and the associated parts are arranged so thatthe cam will pushagainst lever I12 for a predetermined interval in order to cause the finger I19 to be depressed for this same interval during the dwelling time between the application of successive stringer lengths. It can be seen that by adjusting the size of the parts and their relation with each other, stringer lengths of de sired sizes and at desired spacings may be made.

Means for insuring a positive feed of the elements into the chain are provided by disposing a cam follower I adjacent the cam wheel I60. The follower is attached to the end of an arm III which is pivoted at I6I by means of a screw threaded into a bracket I63 which is attached to bracket 14. The other end of the arm I62 Is attached to link I18 by means of a pin I88 fixed to the arm and extending through a slot I64 in the link. Spring I65 is attached at one end to the pin I66 and at the other end to a fixed point I61 on the link I18 in order to'hold the pin against the'right hand end (Fig. 11) of the slot. This construction provides a yielding action between the arm I62 and link I 16 so that movement of the arm to the left as Indicated in the full line position, will pull link I16 through the spring. Another spring I66 is attached at one end to pin I68 and at the other to bracket I80 which supports the shaft I16 and associated finger mechanism. As the cam wheel I60 rotates, the follower rides upon the cam surfaces I64, being aitemately pushed out by these surfaces and brought back again to the dot and dash line position by reason of spring I68 pulling the arm I62 back around its pivot. This rocks arm I62 and the action is transmitted through the linkage described to shaft I16 thus oscillating the finger I19 from the dot and dash line position of Fig. 11 to the full line position. The heel of the finger is arranged to catch on the humps of the fastener elements. As the finger oscillates it pushes the elements positively and firmly in position into the continuously presented seats or recesses in the chain.

The fastener elements supply mechanism consists of a drum I arranged to rotate on a shaft journalled in a suitable support I99. The drum is provided with an opening I92 in its end and carries fins IN on its inner cylindrical surface. Extending through the opening and supported independently of the drum is provided a tube I94 to which is affixed a tray I93. The tube is provided with a longitudinal slot I95 along one side of which are recesses I96. The slot is of a width slightly greater than the width or thickness of the fastener elements and the recesses I96 are of a size approximately equal to or slightly greater than the humps thereof. Adjacent the lower end of the tube I95 (Figs. 4 and 6) is provided a tripping device 200-which comprises a pair of plates between which an arcuate groove 20I is constructed. At the mouth of the groove is provided an obstruction 202 arranged to obstruct further advance of the legs of the fastener elements as they travel down the slot I95. Connected to the lower end of the groove 20I is chute 30 to which is attached a bracket 203 connected by a flat spring 204 to a vibrating device such as a rotating toothed wheel 206 operating against the roller 205 at the end of the spring. The vibrating device is set into operation and the drum I90 charged with fastener elements and rotated. Fins I 9i raise elements and drop them on the tray I93 where some of them slide into groove I95 and are advanced down the tube by virtue of the inclination and vibration thereof. Unless the elements are disposed substantially as indicated in Fig. 5, they will drop out of the tube when their humps reach recesses I96. If, however, they are disposed as shown in Fig. 5, they will ride down the slot and turn over into head first position by obstruction 202 in the manner shown in Fig. 6. The elements will then A tripping mechanism (Figs. 1, 2 and 23) for throwing out the main clutch of the device in the event something goes wrong with the machine as for instance should a fastener element become accidentally wedged between moving parts, is operated by the collar 53 on the clutch member 49 as previously described. The tripping mechanism consists of an actuating arm 55 which supports rollers 54 disposed on each side of the collar or flange 53. Arm 55 is pivoted at 51 to the upstanding portion 56 of a bracket 69 which is fixed to the base plate I. The arm has a foot portion 58 to which is pivotally connected a link 59 carrying lug 60. Supported on the bracket 69' is a spring operated plunger mechanism consisting of a housing 10 carrying a plunger 66 arranged to slide in bearing pieces II at the ends of the housing. On the plunger 66, inside the housing, is provided a spring 12 for pushing the plunger inwardly by virtue of the action of the spring against end piece H and collar 13 which is fixed on the plunger. Through the collar is extended a bar 64 extending through slot 65 in the housing. One end of a bar is adapted to contact with the upper end 63 of the .bell crank 62 which is pivoted to the outside of the housing and which has a lower arm 6| terminating adjacent the lug 60. During the normal operation of the machine the spring is compressed by pulling back upon arm 64 and positioning bell crank 62 so that arm 63 holds the bar 64 against the tension of the spring. Upon the outer end of the plunger 66 is fixed a. link 6'! which connects the rod 68 and the plunger 66 together in fixed relation. The inner end of the plunger terminates adjacent the actuating arm 55'at 11 when the spring is compressed. Rod 68 connects to a large bell crank 18 (Fig. 3) which is pivoted underneath the base plate I at 19. The other end of the bell crank 80 (Figs. 3 and 25) is positioned adjacent the operating lever 26 so that movement of the former will actuate the latter.

The manner in which the main clutch is automatically thrown out is as follows: Suppose the machine is inoperation and a fastener element becomes accidentally lodged between the chain and some fixed part of the machine. This immediately puts an abnormal load upon shaft 40 and the associated collar 49 which is keyed thereto, and the shaft 40 tends to stop; Power is continued to be applied through gears 46 and 41, however, with the result that the system breaks at the point at which it is designed to break, namely between clutch faces 49 and The teeth of clutch face 56 commence to disengage and ride up on the teeth 'of the clutch face on collar 49, pushing the collar outwardly along its keyway against the action of the spring 5|. This movement causes collar 53 to actuate arm 55 about its pivot in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 23. Through the mechanism described, bell crank 62 is turned so that the cammed surface of arm 63 moves downwardly and bar 64 is released to allow the plunger to move inwardly under the operation of the spring. The butt end of the plunger operates at 11 to further move arm 55 in the initial direction taken and collar 53 of the trip clutch is thus positively moved so that the clutch faces are out of contact. Through rod 68 the bell crank 18 is moved about its pivot causing arm 80 to push the operating lever 26 outwardly as shown by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 25. As the operating lever 26 is normally (during operation) held down by depressing its catch portion 16 under the edge of the plate I, movement of the arm 80 throws the catch portion out of engagement and allows the lever 26 to be elevated by reason of the action of spring 23 which exerts an upward push on the operating rod by virtue of its connection to rod l5 through treadle bar 25. Bars l5 and 25 are thus raised and the lever I3 elevated so that cam faces I 6 are disposed in the path of keys II which by further rotation of the shaft 5 are driven inwardly along their keyways and out of contact with pin it, thus releasing the clutch and causing the machine to stop. The keys and cam faces are so arranged that the clutch will be disengaged just prior to or during the clamping operation of hammers 34, in order that the machine may be thrown out of gear before this action takes place.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

'1. In an apparatus for setting legged elements on a carrying strip, in combination, means for spacing such elements astraddle such a strip, means for supplying said elements to said first means, means for clamping the legs of said elements on said strip and means for cutting off the supply of elements automatically on exhaustion of the strip supply.

2. In an apparatus for carrying legged elements, in combination, a chain having links between which the heads of said elements may be seated, supporting wheels for said chain, means for advancing said chain around said supporting wheels, means for seating separate elements between said links during said advance, and

means associated with said last mentioned means clamping the legs of said elements upon said strip while the same is advanced by seated elements previously attached thereto.

4. In an apparatus for setting legged elements for slide-operable fasteners on a carrying strip, in combination, a chain adapted toseat the heads of separate elements and continuously advance the same with legs straddling said strip, means for supplying elements into the seats in said chain, and means for clamping the legs of said elements upon said strip, the carrying strip being moved by the chain and elementsclamped thereon.

5. In an apparatus for setting legged elements for slide fasteners on a carrying strip, in combination, positive means for spacing such elements astraddle such a strip, means for supplying said elements to said first means and means of a shape to simultaneously engage the legs of a plurality of elements for successively clamping the legs of groups of said elements on said strip, whereby elements for slide-operable fasteners may be secured to the carrying strip.

6. In a separable fastener element setting machine, in combination, a. series of continuously advancing pockets, means for supplying legged elements into said pockets with their legs outclamping the legs of groups of said elements upon a carrying strip during said advance, whereby elements for slide-operable fasteners may be secured to the carrying strip.

7. In an apparatus for positioning legged elements, in combination, an endless chain having links between which the heads of said elements may be seated, means for continuously advancing said chain and means for seating separate elements between said links during said advance.

8. In an apparatus for setting legged elements on a carrying strip, in combination, an advancing chain, means for supplying said elements head first into said chain, and means for clamping the legs of the elements on a continuously advancing strip.

9.- In an apparatus for setting legged elements on a carrying strip, in combination, a chain adapted to advance in parallelism with such a strip, means for supplying said elements into said chain with their legs protruding therefrom, and means for clamping the legs of the elements on said strip.

10. In combination with means for feeding legged elements astraddle a carrying strip and advancing the same continuously, means movable parallel to the direction of advance for clamping the legs of said elements upon said strip.

11. In combination with means for supplying and uniformly spacing legged elements astraddle a carrying strip and advancing said elements and strip continuously, means for clamping said elements in groups successively and the members of each group simultaneously to the carrying strip in uniform spaced relation.

12. In combination with means .for feeding legged elements astraddle a carrying strip and advancing the same continuously and without pause, reciprocating means for exerting a force only in a direction normal to the direction of said advance to clamp the legs upon said strip,

13. In combination with means for supplying legged elements astraddle a carrying strip and advancing the same continuously and without pause, means for simultaneously clamping the legs of a plurality of said elements to and around the edge of said strip during said advance.

14. In combination with means for supplying legged elements astraddle a carrying strip, means for successively clamping the legs of groups of elements upon said strip, whereby elements for slide-operable fasteners may be secured to the carrying strip.

15. The method of setting legged elements upon a carrying strip comprising arranging a plurality of said elements in a row in spaced parallel relation with their legs open and adjacent said strip and then successively clamping the legs of. groups of said elements thereon in the same spaced parallel relation.

16. In an apparatus for positioning legged elements, in combination, a chain having links between which the heads of said elements may be seated, supporting wheels therefor, means for advancing said chain around said supporting wheels, and means for positively seating separate elements between said links during said advance, and while said links are out of alignment whereby seating said elements is facilitated.

17. In an apparatus for positioning legged elements, in combination, a chain having links between which the heads of groups of said elements may be seated, means for advancing said chain around said supporting wheels, and.

means for seating separate elements between said links as they are opened out while advancing around one of the supporting wheels.

18. In combination with means for threading legged elements on to a. carrying strip and advancing the same continuously, reciprocating means movable only in a direction normal to the direction of said advance while advancing with the strip to force said legs together upon said strip.

19. The method of setting legged elements upon a carrying strip comprising advancing and threading the legs of the elements about the edge of said strip and then clamping the legs on said strip by exerting a single force on said legs in a direction'normal to the direction of travel of said elements and advancing the force while maintaining it in its normal direction during the advancing movement of the strip.

20. In a machine for securing legged elements on 'a flexible strip for slide-operable fasteners, in combination, open and closable means for receiving and holding elements with their legs accessible, means for supplying preformed elements to said open and closable means, means for initially positioning a flexible strip, means for guiding said flexible strip in a direction parallel and in proximity to a portion of the path of said open and closable means so as to position the strip between the legs of said elements, and means for clamping the legs of said elements fast on the flexible strip.

21. In a machine for securing legged elements on a flexible strip for slide-operable fasteners, in combination, moving articulated means for receiving and maintaining said elements with their legs accessible, said articulated means being movable in a curved path for facilitating the reception of elements and in a straight path for facilitating theclosing of the legs of said elements, means for initially positioning a flexible strip, means for guiding the flexible strip in a. path to have elements secured thereto, and means located adjacent the straight portion of the path of said articulated means for closing the legs of said elements upon and securing them to the flexible strip without impairing movement of the articulated means,

22. In a machine for securing legged elements on a flexible strip for slide-operable fasteners, in combination, movable means for maintaining preformed legged elements in predetermined spaced relation and positioning said elements edgewise upon a flexible strip, a portion of the path of said movable means at least being straight, means for introducing preformed legged elements into said first mentioned movable means in predetermined sequence, and means for successively securing said legged elements to and around the edge of said strip and at right angles thereto.

23. In a machine for securing legged elements on a flexible strip for slide-operable fasteners, in combination, endless articulated metallic means for receiving and holding a predetermined number of legged elements in uniformly spaced parallel relation, means for sequentially supplying to said first mentioned means such legged elements with their leg portions accessible for closing, a source of flexible strip supply, and guiding means for conducting such flexible strip in a predetermined path parallel to a portion of the path of said endless articulated metallic means, and means for securing the legs of said elements around an edge of said flexible strip at intervals.

2%, In a machine for permanently affixing legged elements of rigid material and for slide ity and at a point where the chain is bent to facilfasteners to a flexible support, an endless chain itate such seating of said elements.

having links between which the heads of said ele- ERNEST HOPKINSON.

ments are adapted to be seated, means for sup- FRANK A. BELANGER. 5 plying said elements into seats intermediate said FRED A. ALCO'IT.

links at a. rate greater than that induced by grav- EDWIN F. HEWITI. 

